Automatic vacuum can-sealing machine.



H0 MODEL,

PATENTED AUG. 11, 1903.

- J. G. HODGSONL AUTOMATIC VACUUM CAN SEALING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 10. 1902.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 735,978. PATENTED AUG. 11, 1903. J. G. HODGSON.

AUTOMATIC VACUUM CAN SEALING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 10. 1902.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

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No. 735,978. PATENTED AUG. 11, l903..'

J. G. IIODGSON. AUTOMATIC VACUUM CAN SEALING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILEDJULY 10, 1902. no mom. s sums-sum s.

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No. remove.

UNITED STATES Patented August 11, 1903.

P TENT OFFICE.

JOHN G. HODGSON, or MAYWOODfILLlNOIS, ASSIGNOR TO A TOMATIC VACUUMOANNING COMPANY, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORA- TION OF ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC-VACUUM CAN-SEALING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 736,978; dated. August11, Application filed July 10, 1902- Both-1N0- 114,980. Illo model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN G. HODGSON, a citizen of the United States,residing in Maywood, in the county-of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Automatic Vacuum Can-SealingMachines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates-to improvements invacuumizing-machines for sealingand securing covers on cans or vessels-that is to say, to

' machines for exhausting the air from cans or vessels and from. areceiver containing the same and then seating the cover on the can orvessel and restoring the atmospheric pressure to the receiver, wherebythe cover is sealed and secured to the can or vessel by the atmosphericpressure.

The object of my invention is to provide a machine of a simple,eflicient, and durable construction by which this work may beautomatically, rapidly, and cheaply performed,

My invention consists in'the means I employ to accomplish thisresult-that is to say, it consists in the combination, with a con- 1tinuously-moving carrier having a plurality or series of seats for thecans or vessels, a series of individually movable 'or opening andclosingmeceivers mounted on the carrier and mechanism for automaticallyopening and closing the exhaust as th'ecarrier moves.

It also consists in the combination, with a movable carrier having aplurality of seats for the cans and a plurality of receivers mountedthereon, of means for automatically feeding or delivering the cans orvesselson the carrier.

It also consists, in combination with the foregoing, of means forautomatically discharging the cans. from the carrier.

4 It also consists in the novel construction of. parts and devices andin the novel combinashowing the valves for opening and closing theexhaust. Fig. 4 is a detail side elevation showing the mechanism forfeeding and discharging the cans. Fig. '5 is adetail vertical sectionalview through one of the receivers. Fig. 6 is a detail elevation showingthe cam for operating the receivers, and Fig. 7 is a detail elevationshowing the cam for operating the cover-sealing plates, and Fig. 8 is adetail view showing the cam for operatingthe valves controlling thecommunications between the receivers and the exhaust.

In the drawings like letters of reference in-.

dicate like parts in all the figures.

In said drawings, A represents the frame of the machine, *A an exhaustmechanism of any suitable kind, preferably a vacuum pump, and A anexhaust-chamber, the same being preferably formed in the pedestalportion of the frame.

B is a movable carrier, preferably a rotary turret or wheel,furnishedwith a plurality of seats I), having pins or devices b forregistering the cans or vessels with the receivers. The carrier B iscontinuously rotated from the drivin -shaft 0 through the worm G thereonand worm-gear B on the carrier. on the carrier B are aseries ofvertically reciprocating or opening and closing receivers 1), eachhaving a packing-ring d at its open lower end 'for closing and sealingthe same against the can-seat b of the carrier. Each of the receivers Dis furnished with suitable guides d, reciprocating on suitable guides don the carrier B to guide the up-and down movement on the receiver. Eachof the receivers D isfurnished with a movable cover- Mounted seatingplate F for properly seating the covers on the cans or vessels after theair has been exhausted therefrom; The sealing-plate F is preferablyfurnishedwith a rubber cushion or elastic plate f, interposed between itand the cap-plate f, to'which the stem f is attached, by which theseating-plate is operated or reciprocated, said stem extending through astuffing-box d, with which the receiver D is furnished. The receiverD isreciprocated or opened and closed, as required, as the carrier rotates,preferably by a stationary cam D on the frame of the machine, throughthe connccting-lever D which is furnished with an antifrietion-roller dand with a forked end (1 having slots d engaging pins (1 on therecciver.The operating-levers D -one for each receiverare journaled on brackets Bon the carrier B. I

Leading to each of the receivers, preferably through the calrseats b,which close the same, are pipes g, communicatingwith the exhaust deviceA through the valves G, which control the communication, said valves G-having an exhaust-port g and an air -inlet port g through which air maybe admitted to the receiver to break the vacuum after the covers havebeen seated on the cans or vessels, and thus seal and secure the coversin place by a vacuum or atmospheric pressure seal. The inlet-ports g inthe valves G communicate with air-inlet which are mounted on the carrierB. The frame A has a central standard or shaft A forminga bearing forthe journal B of the carrier B and provided with an annular groove orchannel a, communicating with the exhaust-chamberA", and the journal Bis prefcrab] y furnished with a corresponding annular groove or channel12 communicating with the pipes g, which lead to the receivers, and inwhich pipes the valve-shellsG and valves G are inserted. The valves Gare automatically operated or reciprocated as the carrier B rotates,preferably by a stationary cam G which the valve-stems G3 engage. Thevalve-stems G may be furnished with springs G for moving them in onedirection.

The cover-seating plates F are operated or reeiprocated as required,preferably bya stationary cam F on the frame of the machine engaging theoperating-stems fof said plates. The cans are automatically fedordelivered onto the can-seats b of the carrier B from the eonveyer-beltK by a movable feeder H,-having a series of can-pusher arms h, whichengage the cans and move them along a curved guideway H onto the carrierB against the registering devices or pins b of the canseats. 'lhe feederH is preferably given a rotary movement in cooperation with thecontinuously-rotating carrier by means of operatingarms hf on thefeeder, which engage pins or projections b on the carrier B, or anyother suitable gearing may be employed for connecting the feeder withthe carrier.

As the carrier B rotates the cans are automatically discharged therefromby a can-discharging arm M, projecting in the path of the cans, the sameoperating in conjunction with the guide M to deliver the cans upon thecan-discharging eonveyer or belt N, which travels upon a suitablepulleyfN. The cant'eed eonveyer or belt K travels upon a pul- Icy K. Aplate H flush with the eonveyerbelt K and carrier B, supports the cansas they are moved by the feeder H from the eonveyer K to' the carrier B.A similar-plate N flush with the conveyerNand carrier B, bridges th 0ports 9 in the valve-shells G,

space between the carrier and said belt or con- The exhaust-pipes g arepreferably furnished with regulating-valves g.

The operation is as follows: The cans X on the feed-eonveyer K arecontinuouslycrowded against the guide H veyer, so that one of theposition to be engaged by cans is-always in 'one of the feederarms h asthe feeder H rotates, and thus be onto the can carcarried by thefeeder-arm rier B and against the registering pins or devices b of acan-seat b, the receiver D being at this time in its raised position. Asthe carrier B continues its rotation the receiver I) is closed downagainst the can-seat b by" the operating-cam D, and then the valve G ismoved by the cam G to open the communication between the receiver D andthe exhaust A through the intermed ate exhaust-chamber A the exhaustcommunication remain ingopen for about of the carrier, thus giving ampletime for thoroughly exhausting the air from the receiver and the canaudits contents, the cover X being at this time simply loosely in placeon the can or vessel X. After" the air has thus been exhausted from thecan and its contents thecover-seating plate F is next forced down by itsoperating-cam F,-thus seating the cover firmly and evenly on the can andcompressing the packing a: between the seaming-fian'gesw w of the canandcover and holding the same thus compressed until the vacuum is brokenand the atmospheric pressure restored to the receiver, when the coverwill then be hermetically sealed and secured to the can by the vacuum oratmosphericpressure seal. As soon as the cover is thus seated on the canby the operation of the coverseating plate F the can Gr permits thevalve G to be moved in the opposite direction by the at the end of saidcontwo-thirds of the rotation spring G and thus close the communicationa between the receiver and the exhaust and open the communicationbetween the receiver and the atmosphere through the air-inlet ports g g.As soon as this is done the receiver is again raised I), theseating-plate F being also lifted by its cam F. Then as the carrier Bcontinues to rotate the can, now having its cover sealed and securedthereto by a vacuum or atmospheric-pressure seal, is automaticallydischarged from its carrier by the guide M and delivered upon theThe'operation thus o'necan and receiver simultaneously takes place forthe'others, so that a continuous discharge-eonveyer N. described inrespect to.

by operation of the cam stream or series of cans pass onto, through,

and off of the machine, and continuously without stop or interruption.By this means the cans or vessels may be vacuumized and their covershermetically sealed and secured thereto, each by a vacuum oratmosphericerally-open can-seats to receive the cans horiofreciprocating receivers mounted on the carrier and having op'en lowerends engaging the can-seats and thus inclosing and surroundihg the cans,and

zontally, a plurality means for registering the cans under the re--ceivers so that the receivers can close around the same, substantiallyas specified.

2. In a machine for exhausting the air from and sealing the covers oncans or vessels, the combination with an exhaust of acontinuously-moving earrierhaving aplurality of latorally-open can-seatsto receive the cans horizontally, a plurality of reciprocating receiversmounted on the carrier and having open lower ends engaging the can-seatsand thus inelosing and surrounding the cans, and a feeder forautomatically delivering the cans upon the continuously-moving carrier,and means for registering the cans under the receiver so that thereceiverscan close around the same, substantially as specified.

3. In a machine for exhaustingthe air from, and sealing the covers oncans or vessels, the combination with an exhaust, of acontinuously-movin g earrierhavin g aplurality of laterally-opencan-seats, a plurality of reciprocating receivers mounted on thecarrier, a feeder for automatically delivering the cans upon thecontinuously-moving carrier, and a conveyor for delivering the cans tothe feeder, and means for registering the cans under the receivers sothat the receivers can close around the same, substantially asspecified.

4. In a machine for exhausting the air from, and sealing covers on cansor vessels, the combination with an exhaust, of acontinuously-inovingcarrierhavingapluralityof laterally-open can-seats,a plurality of reciprocating receivers mounted on the carrier, and adevice for automatically discharging the cans from the carrier, andmeans for registering the cans under the receivers so that the receiverscan close around the same, substantially as specified.

5. The combination with an exhaust, of a movable carrier havinglaterally-open canseats to receive the cans horizontally, a plurality ofopening and closing receivers mounted thereon, and meansfol-automatically feeding the cans or vessels onto the carrier, andmeans for registering the cans under the receivers sothatthereceiverscanclose aroundthe same, substantially as specified.

6. The combination with an exhaust, of a movable carrier havinglaterally-open canseats to receive the cans horizontally, a plurality ofopening and closing receivers mounted thereon, means for automaticallyfeeding the cans or vessels outo the carrier, and means forautomatically discha'iging the cans from the carrier, and means forregistering thecaus under the receivers so that the receivers can glogearound the same, substantially as speci- 7. The combination with anexhaust, ofa movable carrier having a plurality of laterally-opencan-seats thereon, a plurality of reciprocating receivers mounted on thecarrier, anda stationary cam for reciprocating the re-. ceivers as thecarrier moves, and means for registering the cans under the receivers sothat the receivers can close around the same, substantially asspecified.

8. The combination with an exhaust, of a rotary carrier having aplurality of laterallyopen can-seats, a plurality of movable receiversmounted on the carrier, and means for automatically feeding the cans orvessels onto the carrier, and a stationary cam for operating thereceivers, and means for registering the cans under the receivers sothat the receivers can close around the same, substantially asspecified. I

9. The combination with an exhaust, of a carrier having a plurality oflaterally-open can-seats thereon, a plurality of reciprocating receiversmounted on the carrier, valves for opening and closing thecommunications between the receivers and the exhaust, and astationarycam' for operating said valves as the carrier rotates,-andmeans for registering the cans under the-receivers so that the receivers canclose around the same, substan tially as specified.

10. The combination with an exhaust, of a carrier having a plurality oflaterally-open eanseats thereon, of a plurality of reciproeat: ingreceivers mounted on the carrier, valves for opening and closing thecommunications between the receivers and the exhaust, and a stationarycam for operating said valves as the carrier rotates, said valves beingalso pro- ECO vided with air -inlet ports, and means for registering thecans with the receivers so that the receivers can close around the same,substantially as specified.

11. The combination with an exhaust, of a carrier having a plurality oflaterally-open can-seats, a plurality of opening and closing receiversmounted on the carrier, each of said receivers having a cover-seatingplatetherein, and a stationary cam for operating said cover-seatingplates as the carrler'moves, and means for registering the cans with thereceivers so that the receivers can close around the same, substantiallyas specified.

12. The combination witharotating carrier havinga plurality ofcan-seats, a plurality of reciprocating receivers mounted on thecarrier, an exhaust device, a connecting-pipe between the exhaust deviceand each receiver, a'valve in each connecting-pipe for controlling thecommunications between the receiver and the exhaust and outer air, and astationary cam for operating said valves,'and means for registering thecans with the receivers so that the receivers can close around the same,substantially as specified.

l3. Thecombination with a rotating carrier having apluralityoflaterally-open can-seats, of a plurality of movable receivers mounted onthe carrier, an exhaust device, communications between the exhaustdevice and said receiver, valves for controlling said communications, astationary cam for operating said valves. and a stationary cam foropening and closing the receivers, and means for regisicring the canswith the receivers so that the receivers can close around the same,substantially as specified.

14. The combination with a rotating carrier having a plurality oflaterally-open can-seats, of a plurality of movable receivers mounted onthe carrier, an exhaust device, communications between the exhaustdevice and said receiver, valves for controlling said communications, astationary cam for operating said valves, a stationary cam for openingand closing the receivers, a plurality of coverseating plates in saidreceivers, and a stationary cam for operating said cover-seating plates,substantially as specified.

15. The combination with a rotating carrier having a plurality oflaterally-open can-seats, of a plurality of movable receivers mounted onthe carrier, an exhaust device, communications between the exhaustdevice and said receivers, valves for controlling, said comm u-'nications, a stationar 1 cam for operating said valves, a stationarycam for operating the receivers, a plurality of cover-seating plates insaid receivers, a stationary cam for operating said cover-seatingplates, and a feeder for automatically delivering the cans to thecarrier, and means for registering the cans with the receivers so thatthe receivers can close around the same, substantially as specified.

16. The combination with a rotating carrier having a plurality oflaterallyopen can-seats, of a plurality of movable receivers mounted onthe carrier, an exhaust device, communications between the exhaustdevice and said receiver, valves for controlling said communications,astationary cam for operating said valves, a stationary cam foroperating the receivers, a plurality of cover-seating plates in saidreceivers, a stationary cam for operating said cover-seating plates, afeeder for automatically delivering the cans to the carrier, a devicefor discharging the cans from the carrier, and means for registering thecans with the receivers so that the receivers can close around the same,substantially as specified.

17. The combination with an exhaust, of a carrier having a plurality oflaterally-open can-seats, of a plurality of movable receivers mountedthereon, means for moving the receivers to open and close the sameagainst the can-seats, and a feeder for delivering the cans upon thecarrier, and means for registering the cans with the receivers so thatthe against the can-seats, a feeder l or delivering the cans upon thecarrier, an exhaust device,

and valves for opening and closing the communications between theexhaust device and the receivers, and means for registering the canswith the receivers so that the receivers can close around the same,substantially as specified.

19. The combination with an exhaust, ofa carrier having a plurality oflaterally-open can-seats, of a plurality of movable receivers mountedthereon, means for opening and closing the receivers against thecan-seats, afeeder for delivering the cans upon the carrier,cover-seating plates in the receivers, and means for operating saidcover-seating plates, and means for registering the cans with thereceivers so that the receivers can close around the same, substantiallyas specified.

20. The combination witha carrier having a plurality of laterally-opencan-seats, of a plurality of receiversmounted thereon, means for openingand closing the receivers against the can-seats, a feeder for deliveringthe cans upon the carrier, an exhaust device, valves for opening andclosing the communications between the exhaust device and the receivers,cover -seating plates in the receivers, and means for operating saidcover-seating plates, and means for registering the cans with thereceivers so that the receivers can close around the same, substantiallyas specified.

21. The combination with a carrier having a plurality of laterally-opencan'seats, of a plurality of receivers mounted thereon, means foropening and closing the receivers, afeeder for delivering the cans uponthe carrier, an exhaust device, valves for opening and closing thecommunications between the exhaust device and the receivers,cover-seating plates in the receivers, rnoans for operating saidcover-seating plates, and a device for discharging the cans from thecarrier, and means for registering the cans with the receivers so thatthe receivers can close around the same, substantially as specified.

22. The combination with an exhaust, of a movable carrier having alaterally-open canseat, an opening and closing receiver mounted thereon,and a feeder for automatically delivering the cans one by one to thecarrier under the receiver, and =means for registering the cans underthe receiver so that the receiver can close around the same,substantially as specified. I

23. The combination withan exhaust, of a continuously-moving carrierhaving a plurality of laterally-opening can-seats, of a plurality ofreciprocatingreceivers thereon, a

, ram-1a feeder for automatically delivering 'cans' one by one upon thecarrier under the receivers, and means for registering the cans underthe receivers so that the receivers can close around the same,substantially as specified.

24:. The combination with an exhaust, of a carrier having a plurality oflaterally-open can-seats thereon furnished with can-registering pins ordevices, of a plurality of movable receivers on the carrier, and afeeder for delivering the cans or vessels onto the carrier, saidcan-registering devices being inside the receivers when the receiversare closed, substantially as specified.

25. The combination with an exhaust, of a carrier having a plurality oflaterally-open can-seats thereon furnished with can-registering pins ordevices, of a plurality of movable receivers on the carrier, a feederfor delivering the cans or vessels onto the carrier, and a conveyer fordelivering the cans to the feeder, said canregistering devices beinginside the receivers when the receivers are closed, substantially asspecified.

26. The combination with an exhaust, of a carrier having a plurality oflaterally-open can-seats thereon furnished with can -registering pins ordevices, a plurality of reciprocating receivers on the carrier, a feederfor- 4 delivering the cans onto the carrier, 'a-conveyer for deliveringthe cans to the feeder, and a guideway for the cans to directfthe sameagainst the registering devices of the- ,can-seats, said can-registeringdevices being inside the receivers when the receivers are closed,substantially as specified.

27. The combination with an exhaust, of a carrier having a plurality ofopen can-seats thereon furnished with can-registering pins or devices, aplurality of reciprocating receivers on the carrier, a feeder fordelivering the cans or vessels onto the carrier, a conveyer fordelivering the cans to the .feeder, and a eurved-guideway for the cansfor directing the same against the registering devices of the can-seats,said can-registering devices being inside the receivers when thereceivers are closed, substantially as specified.

v J OIIN G. IIODGSON.

Witnesses:

JOHN W. IIEWES, MARK A. ELLIOTT.

